"If the majority of votes are for creating a Catalan republic, obviously independence will have to be declared immediately," said Gabriela Serra, a member of the separatist coalition that governs Catalonia.

US authorities say the Russian, Piotr or Peter Levashov, had operated the Kelihos network of tens of thousands of infected computers, stealing personal data and renting the network out to others to send spam emails by the millions and extort ransom from computer owners.

What does it mean to be white? And what does it mean to be Hispanic? Being a Spaniard from Barcelona, Jaime Gonzalez always considered himself to be European and white. But as a BBC reporter working in California — he has found that many Americans see him differently.

There's nothing like a little American exceptionalism to roil some feelings in Europe. Perhaps you've seen the latest Cadillac ad — a tour de force in American pride. But it's engendering a pretty cold reaction from reporter Gerry Hadden's French in-laws.

The "Green Rose" initiative has wide backing among the public and legislators in Spain's Catalonia region. It would allow nonprofit cannabis club members to legally grow and share their weed among themselves. But don't get too excited — pot tourists are not invited.

Updated

06/06/2014 - 12:15pm

When the New York Police Department encouraged its followers on Twitter to share photos of themselves with NYPD officers, the result was not what they expected. Two days later, the hashtag has been mimicked in a half dozen cities around the world to showcase police brutality. But the social media effort has had another consequence: it has started a global dialogue about the perception of police and policing in different cities.

Archaeologists have just discovered the remains of a Spanish fort from 16th century explorers. University of Michigan archaeologist Robin Beck says Fort San Juan represents the earliest known European fort in the interior of what is now the United States.

The United States was among the first foreign nations to move in to help the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan's devastation. The US has long had close, though not always happy, ties with the island nation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sits at the top of a power structure he helped create. But it wasn't always this way. He was once an unemployed KGB agent looking for a job. He proved a master at upward mobility.